Franklin police created a Halloween crime scene on North Main Street where they handed out candy to trick-or-treaters during 2018’s Halloween Town event. This year’s festival will be Oct. 28.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
For one day, downtown Franklin will be known by a new name — Halloween Town.
Local residents can run a costumed 5K, ooh and ahh at the best-dressed pets and bring the little ones in for a variety of not-so-scary activities. Dive into song, dance and scares at the Historic Artcraft Theatre with “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Downtown businesses will be giving out treats door to door before everything culminates in a massive trunk-or-treating extravaganza.
Halloween Town returns Saturday at Young’s Creek Park, as Franklin Parks and Recreation celebrates the spooky season in style. Events and activities are scheduled throughout the day, giving local residents an opportunity to celebrate Halloween together as a community.
“Halloween is huge for so many people, so it’s something we want to continue to do,” said Holly Johnston, recreation director for Franklin Parks and Recreation. “Trick Your Trunk is a great opportunity for families who might live in the country and might not get a lot of trick-or-treaters. They actually get to pass out candy and have trick-or-treaters. Businesses and organizations participate, and they love it.”
Halloween Town has been an October tradition since it was created by Franklin’s parks department in 2018. Organizers used a $2,500 grant from Festival Country Indiana, the county’s tourism organization, to stitch together a few other longtime Halloween traditions into a single event.
The parks department had organized a Halloween-themed 5K on a late-October Friday, and planned the traditional trunk-or-treat event the following night on Saturday. But organizers decided it made more sense to combine the two on one day, rather than spread it out over two.
The inaugural event was a hit, with hundreds of people flocking to the downtown square to take part. Though following years have proved challenging, due to weather and the pandemic, parks department leaders were excited to return to normalcy last year.
“Halloween is huge, and I don’t ever see this event going away. It’s a tradition now,” Johnston said.
This year’s event will be sponsored by Tri Kappa, an Indiana service sorority. The day starts with the Halloween Hustle, a 5K run or walk, with an option for a 1-mile family fun walk as well. This year’s race will start at the Paris Trail Head bridge behind the DriveHubler.com Amphitheater and weaving through the city.
Those looking to take a break from the excitement can catch one of two screenings of “Little Shop of Horror,” the sci-fi musical comedy revolving around a monstrous people-eating plant and the mild-mannered florist who encounters it.
A favorite event at Halloween Town is the Howl-O-Ween pet costume contest.
“One of my favorite things is watching these dogs and their owners dress up in costumes,” Johnston said. “It’s awesome.”
Kids activities, including lawn games, crafts and a cake walk, start in the evening, later than in past year, Johnston said. The activities will coincide with Trick Your Trunk, giving kids and parents something to do while waiting in line.
Shortly after, downtown businesses will pass out candy before Trick Your Trunk opens at 5 p.m. The trunk-or-treat bonanza features community members giving out candy from their own specially decorated vehicles. Prizes will be awarded for the best “tricked” trunks, Johnston said.
Organizers have signed up more people than ever to decorate their trunks this year, as well as enlisting 17 downtown businesses to pass out candy — another record.
“That’s twice the number of businesses we’ve ever had. It’s exciting to have so many businesses want to participate and be a part of it,” Johnston said.
IF YOU GO
Halloween Town
When: Saturday
Where: DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Young’s Creek Park, 161 W. Monroe St., Franklin
Schedule
9 a.m.: Halloween Hustle 5K Run/Walk and 1-mile family fun walk, registration starts at 8 a.m.
2 and 7:30 p.m.: “Little Shop of Horrors,” the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St.
3 to 4 p.m.: Howl-O-Ween pet costume contest registration, parks tent
4 p.m.: Howl-O-Ween pet costume contest
5 to 7:30 p.m.: Kids activities
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Trick the Town, downtown Franklin businesses
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Trick Your Trunk
Information: franklin.in.gov
